Brick Scraps Red Light Cameras [POLL/AUDIO]

Brick Township is pulling the plug on its red light cameras after a review by the mayor found no solid evidence of increased safety.

Cameras at the three affected intersections are scheduled to stop rolling on Feb. 18, when the contract runs out with provider American Traffic Solutions, and Brick would like the equipment removed from the intersections by Feb. 24.

"When I was running for mayor, I met countless residents going door to door, and one of the most common sources of the frustration around the town were the red light cameras here in Brick," said Mayor John Ducey during a press conference at the municipal building with Asm. Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth). "At the end of the day, the statistics I was shown did not convince me that these cameras are making intersections safer."

Ducey indicated he won't "continue the practices of the past" and try to balance Brick's budget "through punitive measures."

LISTEN: Mayor Ducey's announcement

Red light cameras have been active in Brick since 2010, and over 74,000 tickets have been issued, most of which went to out-of-town residents.

"I've been getting tired of getting emails from Spring Lake Heights, from Manasquan, from Brielle, from Wall, saying we're not coming back to use your businesses in your town because you have these red light cameras and we received a ticket," Ducey said.

Ducey becomes the first mayor in New Jersey to give the program the "red light," a move praised by Asm. O'Scanlon, the most vocal critic of the cameras he calls "automatic taxing machines."

"It is a shame that in the pursuit of the almighty dollar, officials in other towns have gone out of their way to avoid facing the truth - that these devices exist exclusively to enrich the companies that operate them and the municipalities that permit them to operate within their jurisdictions," O'Scanlon said.

O'Scanlon cited a growing nationwide movement of towns moving away from red light cameras.

Red light cameras exist at 76 intersections in 11 New Jersey counties.